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German iamb.
:0 at Nice rally
Report by Bill Brock
Photos by Dick ROSS GERMAN Kassboheer entries cleaned up many of the top prizes at the 23rd International Nice Coach Rally. The top award for the best overall entry went to a standard 11.9m (39ft) 53-seat Fiat/Vanhool touring coach.
Such a result was a surprise to many, as one might reasonably have expected the exotic Fiat/Van Hoot execu five coach to have repeated the success it enjoyed at Brighton.
The biggest single entry was the 18m (59ft) 28 tonne (27.5 tons) gross 99-seat NeapIan articulated double decker entered by Globus.
Rear-steered axles are fitted to minimise the vehicles swept path requirement, and a V12 diesel engine driving through a fully automatic transmission is claimed to provide a top speed of 120mph/h (75mph).
Facilities on board include toilet, bar, galley with refrigerator, an internal telephone and a rest room for the second driver.
Bostok's Duple-bodied Bedford, the first to be fitted with the Jacobs electric transmission retarder, was restricted to one concours event due to late entry application, but managed to win a bronze award.
Tatlocks Plaxton-bodied Leyland Leopard (tested in CM April 1) also won a bronze medal for the inclusion of its second driver accommodation, the only one shown conforming to the EEC ventilation requirements.
I travelled down on the Viewmaster and once we had left the P & 0 ferries st Le Havre it took only 121/2 hours of actual travelling time to complete the 1,100km (684mi1e) journey.
Criticisms of the ride were to some extent upheld during the technical tests.
As the only full 12m (39ft) coach in the rally fitted with leaf springs it was at some disadvantage when assessed alongside those with sophisticated air suspensions.
Quality both inside and out compared well with many of the Continental products costing two to three times more and as one of only three vehicles exhibited with either full or semi automatic transmission in some ways led the field.
Low floors on city buses and high bodies on touring coaches continue to dominate the styling. A lot of attention has been paid to the colours and design of the painted livery.
Although modern, and in some cases exotic, the large panels may prove less practical in the long term to maintain and repair.